'He is a changed man, Greta. A changed man. Those frosty blue eyes of his are not nearly so chilling as they were.' There is a mystery surrounding the invitation by Craddock Fitch to the Big House. It is billed as a celebration of his business but as everyone in the village is invited it is obviously something more exciting than that. When they are all assembled they find that it is in fact a lavish wedding reception for two very surprising people. With these festivities over the inhabitants of Turnham Malpas are thrown into preparations of a different nature. It is the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the village school and Kate - the head teacher - is arranging a big celebration. There is the problem of accommodating everyone's enthusiasm as they plan a cricket match, buffet teas, maypole dancing, plays and singing on the green. But there is one problem of which she is unaware. In asking the previous head teachers to attend she has asked her predecessor, little realizing that he is married to Suzy who is the mother of Peter's, the rector, and Caroline's twins.